"Hey, what are you hesitating for?"
"I already said—as long as you hand over that Larvitar, you can pick any of my Pokémon."
"And if you don't like them, just name a price."
"Money is just a number to people like us."
At the end of the food street plaza, a young man—clearly from a privileged background—stood with several followers, surrounding Xiaowen.
His gaze toward Larvitar was filled with greed.
In front of Xiaowen—
Masao and his friends stood firmly, blocking the way.
"Dayou! You've gone too far!"
"You have so many rare Pokémon, yet you don't even cherish them—you even abandoned your own starter, Charmander!"
"How could we ever let you have someone else's Pokémon?!"
This Dayou—
Was the same trainer from the anime who abandoned Charmander.
That very Charmander was later taken in by Ash—
And eventually became the beloved Charizard.
Another of Masao's friends stepped forward, standing beside him.
"And she already told you—this Larvitar isn't even her Pokémon!"
"What you're doing is no different from outright robbery!"
Hearing this, Dayou's expression grew impatient.
Noticing the growing crowd of onlookers, he suddenly grabbed Masao by the collar.
"I told you—move aside!"
"I tolerated your interference before, but do you even know what that Pokémon is?"
"That's a Shiny Larvitar—a Pseudo-Legendary!"
"I've already checked—those people with her are just ordinary League trainers."
"There's no need for you to risk everything for someone you barely know."
"If you move now, I can give you money."
"You can even use it to train your own Pokémon."
"And I'll forget everything you did before."
"Not a bad deal, right?"
Masao didn't hesitate for even a second.
"I said no—and I mean it!"
Faced with both intimidation and temptation—
He still stood his ground.
Because he knew—
That Larvitar belonged to Gym Leader Red.
Red had guided him.
That alone was enough.
Even if it belonged to someone else—
He would still make the same choice.
Let alone now.
He would not take a single step back.
Looking at Dayou and his cronies—
Masao almost revealed Red's identity to scare them off.
But then—
He remembered Red's words.
"My identity needs to stay confidential."
"I can't ruin things for Gym Leader Red…"
Clenching his teeth, he repeated:
"I said—I won't move!"
Suddenly—
A sharp pain exploded in his abdomen.
Dayou had released a Shiny female Machoke—
And it punched Masao directly in the stomach.
With a single blow—
Masao collapsed, clutching his abdomen, curled up like a shrimp in agony.
Dayou sneered.
"You think a bug trainer like you is worth talking to?"
"Do you even know who my father is?"
"Just because we're both trainers doesn't mean we're equals!"
"This doesn't concern you."
"If you keep talking, don't blame me for what happens next."
"Think about your family, Masao."
Seeing Masao attacked—
Xiaowen, who had remained silent, finally stood up.
Shock—and more importantly, anger—filled her voice.
"How dare he attack a League trainer in public?!"
"Is he insane?!"
She took out Riolu's Poké Ball, ready to fight back—
But suddenly—
Someone grabbed her wrist and stepped forward.
Dayou was about to walk past Masao—
But Masao stubbornly grabbed his pant leg.
"You—!"
Having his plans interrupted again and again—
Dayou finally lost his temper.
At this point, he no longer cared that Masao was a League trainer.
"Machoke—cripple him."
"Ninetales—Psychic."
At the final moment—
Red arrived.
Seeing Masao lying on the ground, injured while protecting Xiaowen and Larvitar—
A storm of anger surged within him.
But—
The angrier he was—
The calmer he appeared.
In his mind—
Dayou was already sentenced.
"Yes, Master."
Ninetales' playful demeanor vanished.
As a fox spirit who had lived for centuries—
She could clearly feel Red's fury.
The moment she used Psychic—
The arrogant Shiny Machoke was slammed flat onto the ground, unable to move.
The sheer pressure—
Even cracked the concrete beneath it, forming a deep crater.
Machoke cried out in agony.
"How dare you?!"
Seeing his Pokémon suppressed, Dayou instinctively shouted:
"Do you know who my father is?!"
"I don't care who your father is!"
Red strode forward—
And kicked him hard in the stomach.
The force was so great—
Dayou nearly fainted on the spot.
As he lay there, eyes rolling back, retching—
Red crouched down and helped Masao up.
A stream of green energy flowed from his hand into Masao's injury.
"Are you alright?"
Masao touched his stomach in disbelief.
"F-Red… brother… it doesn't hurt anymore!"
Viridian Power could heal Pokémon—
And humans as well.
"Don't worry."
"I'll make sure you get justice for today."
But Masao shook his head.
Looking at the unconscious Dayou, he said softly:
"Brother Red… it's just a small injury."
"Don't let it interfere with your important matters."
Seeing how Masao was still thinking about him—
Red sighed.
For a moment, he couldn't help but think of his two unreliable disciples.
If only they were like this…
He didn't say more.
Just patted Masao's shoulder.
"I know what I'm doing."
Then—
He walked back toward Dayou.
At that moment, Dayou had just regained consciousness.
Seeing Red, he suddenly remembered something.
"I know you…"
"I investigated you—you're just a nobody with no background!"
"And you dare hit me?!"
"I'll make you pay! I'll make sure you die!"
◇ You can read 60+ chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ElaraVance1
✨ Bonus Chapter Goals ✨
10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter